The Story of Okina Ame Candy

Okina Ame Candy is a traditional Japanese candy with a history of over 200 years.

It has a transparent light yellow color and a soft texture, similar to mochi. The sweetness is mild, coming from the natural sweetness of malt syrup, not overly sugary.

When you taste Okina Ame, it slowly melts on your tongue, leaving a refreshing and unique flavor. This simple and refreshing taste is loved by the Japanese.

Okina Ame is made without any added sugar or additives. The main ingredients are glutinous rice and barley. The core process involves making homemade malt syrup and converting it into candy through five complex steps. The entire production process takes a week, so large-scale production is difficult.

The name ‘Omi’ comes from a Japanese word that means ‘elderly person,’ symbolizing long life and good health. This candy is particularly suitable for older people due to its nutritional value, making it a very tasteful and elegant traditional Japanese sweet.

The History of “Kikyo-ya,” the Maker of Okina Ame Candy

Kikyo-ya is a time-honored Japanese sweets shop. The founder, Nobuoki Takeda, originally lived in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. In 1592, he moved to Noshiro City and established a confectionery shop specializing in Manju under the name “Miyakoshiya.”

In 1812, the 14th generation of Miyakoshiya, Yoshitaro Takeda, inherited the name of a famous Kyoto shop, “Kikyo-ya,” and developed “Okina Ame,” a candy made by solidifying malt syrup. Since then, Okina Ame has become the signature product of Kikyo-ya.

Since the creation of Okina Ame, each owner of Kikyo-ya has inherited Yoshitaro’s name, continuing his legacy, passing down the original method of production through generations, ensuring it remains a family tradition.

Because the entire production process of Okina Ame is done personally by the shop owner without the help of other workers, it cannot be mass-produced. These factors have made Kikyo-ya one of the most representative local specialties of Noshiro City.

The Flavor Trusted by Japanese Olympic Figure Skater Yuzuru Hanyu

Kikyo-ya was originally a well-known traditional Japanese sweets shop among the locals of Noshiro City. However, its rise to fame beyond the region can be traced back to 2019.

At that time, Toshi, the lead singer of the rock band X Japan, received a gift of Okina Ame Candy from renowned figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu during a performance in Sendai. He shared it on social media, which quickly went viral.

As a result, Kikyo-ya, a small local shop in Noshiro, was flooded with orders from all over the country. Even visiting the store in person didn’t guarantee getting Okina Ame during that period, and the event became a hot topic, widely discussed in the area.

A Traditional Japanese Sweet That Needs to Be Preserved

Because Okina Ame Candy was inspired by the original Kyoto shop, Kikyo-ya, there are a few other long-established shops in Niigata associated with Kyoto’s Kikyo-ya that also sell Okina Ame. For example, “Takahashi Magozaemon” and “Osugiya Sobei” in Niigata also carry it.

However, as the producer of Osugiya Sobei is elderly and has no successors, the production of Okina Ame officially ceased in January 2024. Therefore, aside from “Takahashi Magozaemon,” Kikyo-ya in Noshiro City remains one of the main places where you can still enjoy Okina Ame in Japan.

If you ever find yourself in Noshiro City, make sure to swing by Kikyo-ya, say hi to Mr. Takeda, and treat yourself to a refreshing piece of Okina Ame.